The shipyard has 250 immediate openings and expects to hire an additional 1200 people by the end of next year. Many applicants met with hiring managers and scheduled follow-on interviews and skill-testing requirements.

In July, BAE Systems completed construction of the American Phoenix, the largest vessel built and launched in the State of Alabama. Last month, the company laid the keel for the MV Magdalen, an 8,500 cubic yard capacity trailing suction hopper dredge, and this week the shipyard started construction on the first of two dump scows, which are used for dredging operations. Early next year, construction starts on two new platform supply vessels that will serve offshore drilling operations.